If you think the dandelions that bloom in your lawn every spring and summer are nothing but annoying weeds, think again!
Throughout much of the world dandelion is cherished blooming flower tea as a nutrient-rich food source and medicinal herb.
In recent years dandelion has gained acceptance within the western scientific community as an antioxidant and cancer-fighting agent.
To cite one example: A study published in 2011 by the International Journal of Oncology reported that dietary supplements that included dandelion as an active ingredient were effective at halting the growth of prostate cancer cells.
Not too shabby for just an “annoying weed”, right?
Thinking about including dandelion as a part of your healthy lifestyle? One of the easiest ways to get your daily dose of dandelion is with a cup (or two!) of hot, delicious dandelion tea.
Need more convincing? Read on to learn more about the health benefits of dandelion tea.
5 Reasons to Drink Dandelion Tea
It helps to regulate blood sugar levels. The University of Ohio published a report showing that tea made from dandelion can act as a stabilizing agent on blood sugar levels. If you’re diabetic drinking three cups of dandelion tea a day can help you manage your condition.
Of course, always check with your doctor before making changes to your dietary routine.
It is nature’s top diuretic. Put simply, you’ll be making tracks for the restroom after a cup. Wait. How is the urge to urinate one of the health benefits of dandelion tea?
Well, a diuretic will flush nasty toxins out of your kidneys and help you lose excess water weight. Great news if you’re on a detox plan or trying to shed a couple of pounds.
It will help you get slim. When used as part of a healthy lifestyle that includes diet and exercise, this tea can boost your body’s ability to lose weight.
Dandelion promotes bile production. Bile is a fluid made in your gallbladder that aids digestion and flushes nasty toxins out of your body. Couple that with this tea’s diuretic properties and you’re looking at a powerful weight loss herb. Small wonder that many diet pills include dandelion as a key ingredient!
It helps your skin look beautiful. One of the lesser known health benefits of dandelion tea is its ability to help skin conditions.
Because of its detoxification properties dandelion tea is awesome at ridding your body of toxins. This makes it an effective tool against acne and eczema. A cup of dandelion tea cleanses you from the inside out, and it can also be applied directly to your face as a toner.
It benefits your vision. Remember how your mom would tell you: “Eat all those carrots! They’re good for your eyes.” Well, mom was right. Carrots are a good source of beta-carotene, a nutrient your body converts into Vitamin A and one that’s necessary for good eye-sight.
What mom might not have known is that dandelion has more beta-carotene per 100 grams than carrots! Oh, if only we’d been armed with this info as kids, right? Can’t you imagine telling mom: “I’ll skip the carrots, thanks. How about a cup of dandelion tea instead?”